Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 20

The fruit of devotional service

To a devotee who is thus engaged in Krsna consciousness the Lord is very, very kind. In spite of all difficulties, he is eventually placed in the transcendental abode, or Krsnaloka. He is guaranteed entrance there; there is no doubt about it. In that supreme abode, there is no change; everything is eternal, imperishable, and full of knowledge.

Srila Prabhupada; Bg 18.56 purport

The post The fruit of devotional service appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Our eternal indebtedness

Cc Adi 1.48 TRANSLATION by Srila Prabhupada

“O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahma, for You appear in two features — externally as the acarya and internally as the Supersoul — to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You.”

PURPORT
This verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.29.6) was spoken by Sri Uddhava after he heard from Sri Krsna all necessary instructions about yoga.

The post Our eternal indebtedness appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Your name is Sridhara Dasa Brahmacari

When he [Srila Prabhupada] called me up for the initiation, he called my name, John. And again here I was — it was the time he was giving me my beads, but I was almost frozen with fear. So I went up and he said, “So? You are brahmacari?” I didn’t know what to do; I just offered my obeisances and somebody shook me: “Prabhupada is talking to you.” Then I sat up. Prabhupada told me, “Don’t worry; it’s OK.” Then he said, “So you know the mantras?” You know, I was supposed to say, “No illicit sex, no intoxication . . .” I said, “Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna . . . (laughter) I completely blew it all the way around. Then he gave me the name, Sridhar dasa Brahmacari.

Told by ISKCON’s Sridhara Swami, From “The Jolly Swami” by Adbhuta Hari Dasa

The post appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Puppet heads of state

The modern elected executive head of a state is just like a puppet because he has no kingly power. Even if he is enlightened like Maharaja Yudhisthira, he cannot do anything out of his own good will due to his constitutional position. Therefore, there are so many states over the earth quarreling because of ideological differences or other selfish motives. But a king like Maharaja Yudhisthira had no ideology of his own. He had but to follow the instructions of the infallible Lord and the Lord’s representative, an authorized agent like Bhismadeva. It is instructed in the sastras that one should follow the great authorities and the infallible Lord without any personal motive or manufactured ideology. Therefore, it was possible for Maharaja Yudhisthira to rule the whole world, including the seas, because the principles were infallible and universally applicable to everyone. The conception of one world state can only be fulfilled if we can follow the infallible authority. An imperfect human being cannot create an ideology acceptable to everyone. Only the perfect and infallible can create a program which is applicable at every place and can be followed by all in the world. It is the person who rules, and not the impersonal government. If the person is perfect, the government is perfect. If the person is a fool, the government is a fool’s paradise. That is the law of nature. There are so many stories of imperfect kings or executive heads. Therefore, the executive head must be a trained person like Maharaja Yudhisthira, and he must have the full autocratic power to rule over the world. The conception of a world state can take shape only under the regime of a perfect king like Maharaja Yudhisthira. The world was happy in those days because there were kings like Maharaja Yudhisthira to rule over the world.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 1.10.3

The post Puppet heads of state appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

The purpose of Mayapur Chandrodaya temple

Mayapur Chandrodaya temple is meant for transcendental United Nation. What United Nation has failed, that will be achieved here by the process recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Srila Prabhupada, speaking in Mayapur, January 15, 1976

The post The purpose of Mayapur Chandrodaya temple appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Instruction for book distributors (and others)

So far as your engagement is concerned, I am most satisfied to see that my books are being distributed profusely. Please always follow the four regulative principles and chant minimum sixteen rounds per day. Study my books very carefully and prepare yourself fully for going back to home, back to Godhead.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Arjuna – Dallas 20 May, 1973

The post Instruction for book distributors (and others) appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Krsna’s direct order: varnasrama

My dear friend, I am Paramatma, the Supersoul present in everyone’s heart, and it is My direct order that human society follow the principles of varna and asrama. As I have stated in the Bhagavad-gita, human society should be divided into four varnas, according to quality and action. Similarly, everyone should divide his life into four parts. One should utilize the first part of life in becoming a bona fide student, receiving adequate knowledge and keeping oneself in the vow of brahmacarya, so that one may completely devote his life for the service of the spiritual master without indulging in sense gratification. A brahmacari is meant to lead a life of austerities and penance. The householder is meant to live a regulated life of sense gratification, but no one should remain a householder for the third stage of life. In that stage, one has to return to the austerities and penances formerly practiced in brahmacari life and thus relieve himself of the attachment to household life. After being relieved of his attachments to the materialistic way of life, one may accept the order of sannyasa.

From Srila Prabhupada’s Krsna Book chapter 80: The Meeting of Lord Krsna with Sudama Brahmana

The post Krsna’s direct order: varnasrama appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu and cow protection

“In My last birth I was born in the family of cowherd men, and I gave protection to the calves and cows. Because of such pious activities, I have now become the son of a brahmana.”

The words of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the greatest authority, herein clearly indicate that one becomes pious simply by keeping cows and protecting them. Unfortunately, people have become such rascals that they do not even care about the words of an authority. People generally consider cowherd men lowly members of society, but herein Caitanya Mahaprabhu confirms that they are so pious that in their next lives they are going to be brahmanas. The caste system has a specific purpose. If this scientific system is followed, human society will get the greatest benefit. Heeding this instruction by the Lord, people should serve cows and calves and in return get ample quantities of milk. There is no loss in serving the cows and calves, but modern human society has become so degraded that instead of giving protection to the cows and serving them, people are killing them. How can they expect peace and prosperity in human society while committing such sinful activities? It is impossible.

Cc Adi 17.111, translation & purport by Srila Prabhupada

The post Caitanya Mahaprabhu and cow protection appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Dancing to a different tune

Everyone is dancing as maya is impelling. Now we have to dance as Krsna is impelling, that’s all. The dancing will continue. Somebody is dancing in the ballroom and somebody is dancing in this temple, but there is vast difference of this dancing, vast difference. That is false platform; this is real platform. So this is Krsna consciousness movement. So we are inviting everyone to come and dance with us and feel transcendental pleasure. That is our program. It is not very difficult. The child can dance also. They can also clap. It is so nice. But that dancing is real dancing. And by that dancing you make advancement in your spiritual life.

From Srila Prabhupada’s Lecture, Los Angeles, July 12, 1971

The post Dancing to a different tune appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Lord Caitanya’s order still exists

Although the members of the so-called Hindu society had followed the social customs and formulas, they had practically forgotten to execute their religious principles strictly. But with the presence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu they actually began following the regulative principles according to His order. That order is still existing, and anywhere and everywhere, in all parts of the world, one can execute it. That order is to become a spiritual master under the direction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by following the regulative principles, chanting daily at least sixteen rounds of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, and preaching the cult of Krsna consciousness all over the world. If we adhere to the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we shall get spiritual strength without a doubt, and we shall be free to preach this cult of the Hare Krsna movement and not be hampered by anyone.

Srila Prabhupada, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 17.126, purport

The post Lord Caitanya’s order still exists appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.